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Post by sparrowhawk (Bob) on Jun 4, 2006 15:32:09 GMT -7
Been living with the 38 Sr. 1x12 Reverb for 6 months now and it continues to impress me. Best sounding amp I've ever owned, really glad I sprung for it. I've kept it stock, but recently I've been getting a tweak bug and have been thinking about a speaker swap. Tonkers seem to get lots of press on this forum, I was wondering if you could let me know what it is you like about 'em relative to the stock G12H..
Thanks!
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Post by LeftyLang on Jun 4, 2006 17:30:21 GMT -7
More Clean..with a nice bottom end. Think Big Huge Tone!
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Post by Greg G. on Jun 4, 2006 21:58:26 GMT -7
For me, in a 1x12 setup, I doubt I'll come accross a better 12" speaker for use by itself. I do like the sound of the G12H, but only in combination with another G12H or some other speaker, by itself it sounds very isolated and one dimensional to me. In contrast, the Tonker has such a full and even frequency spectrum and is so efficient in sound dispersion, that it is the closest thing I've heard in a single 12" speaker to that of the sonic qualities of most 2x12 speaker setups. It is such an efficient speaker with such a high sensitivity rating that it immediately makes your amp seemingly sound louder, which could be good or bad depending on what your after. That being said, I still love a 2x12 setup and the ability to mix and match speakers and that's why I'm having a 2x12 cab being built for me right now. This way I feel I've got the best 1x12 option for me (the Tonker) and any number of 2x12 setups that I like and many more that I might come accross by expirimenting. I tried using the Tonker and Swamp Thang in a 2x12 setup a short while back, but with the dominant character that both speakers offered by themselves, it was kind of overkill for me and my volume needs (both speakers are so efficient, loud and dominant in sonic texture in and of themselves that it was hard for me to discern the virtue of combing the two within the volumes I am commonly restricted to playing.) I guess this is the reason I want a 2x12 cab again, so that I can mix and match less efficient speakers to get unique sonic textures and the pleasing sound dispersion of multiple speakers while staying within the limits of most of my playing situations. I'd say go ahead and order a Tonker for the heck of it, such and easy and cheap experiment and something you'll immediately notice. At $50 you can't go wrong. Good luck and have fun! -Greg
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Post by BW on Jun 5, 2006 0:20:44 GMT -7
I opted for the Swamp Thang instead of the Tonker, the two are pretty similar, and Dave (Bluzsteel) had both, I tried 'em and the Swamp seemed way less middy to me. A little more 'Jenseney', if you will, with a little JBL thrown in w/o the metallic dust cap. Tried it with my MAZ and it was just too much for everybody ON and IN FRONT OF the stage. Its REALLY bright and loud, in a big venue it works good, but I'm not much of a pedal guy and tend to use the amp cranked way up. So I put it in my Deluxe Reverb and I'm very happy with it there. Not quite as much 'drive' with the Deluxe, so its a little more manageable. I'm back on the Celestion G12-100H w/ a beamblocker in my 1X12 Hantone cab, and I have an original Vox blue Bulldog that's been reconed w/ a Vintage 30 kit in my Z 1X12 cab. I know Dave has been very satisfied w/ his Tonker/Swamp Thang combo. Its just that the age group that comes to our shows (and is in our band ;^) were cringing in the front row, standing there pushed up against the front of the stage. No sense puttin' the hurt on anybody. I will say that the Swamp Thang was really great w/ the Ghia, although still a little loud and top-endy. But very full and solid.
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Post by guitarman1 on Jun 5, 2006 10:25:18 GMT -7
For me, in a 1x12 setup, I doubt I'll come accross a better 12" speaker for use by itself. I do like the sound of the G12H, but only in combination with another G12H or some other speaker, by itself it sounds very isolated and one dimensional to me. In contrast, the Tonker has such a full and even frequency spectrum and is so efficient in sound dispersion, that it is the closest thing I've heard in a single 12" speaker to that of the sonic qualities of most 2x12 speaker setups. It is such an efficient speaker with such a high sensitivity rating that it immediately makes your amp seemingly sound louder, which could be good or bad depending on what your after. That being said, I still love a 2x12 setup and the ability to mix and match speakers and that's why I'm having a 2x12 cab being built for me right now. This way I feel I've got the best 1x12 option for me (the Tonker) and any number of 2x12 setups that I like and many more that I might come accross by expirimenting. I tried using the Tonker and Swamp Thang in a 2x12 setup a short while back, but with the dominant character that both speakers offered by themselves, it was kind of overkill for me and my volume needs (both speakers are so efficient, loud and dominant in sonic texture in and of themselves that it was hard for me to discern the virtue of combing the two within the volumes I am commonly restricted to playing.) I guess this is the reason I want a 2x12 cab again, so that I can mix and match less efficient speakers to get unique sonic textures and the pleasing sound dispersion of multiple speakers while staying within the limits of most of my playing situations. I'd say go ahead and order a Tonker for the heck of it, such and easy and cheap experiment and something you'll immediately notice. At $50 you can't go wrong. Good luck and have fun! -Greg I agree with everything you said. Where can you get a Tonker for $50.00?
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Post by Greg G. on Jun 5, 2006 11:51:38 GMT -7
They may have gone up in price since I purchased my Tonker and Swamp, but I bought mine from Avatar Speakers for $49 + shipping. They may have gone up $10 to $20, but thats still a pretty cheap experiment in tone. When's the last time you bought a pedal or a set of replacement pickups for under $100?
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Post by guitarman1 on Jun 6, 2006 7:27:50 GMT -7
They may have gone up in price since I purchased my Tonker and Swamp, but I bought mine from Avatar Speakers for $49 + shipping. They may have gone up $10 to $20, but thats still a pretty cheap experiment in tone. When's the last time you bought a pedal or a set of replacement pickups for under $100? Dave had a bunch in OEM boxes a while back and was selling them as "scratch & dents". Unfortunatley, they're all gone and he's not doing that any longer. I think he started getting a little heat from Eminence for selling them so cheaply!
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Post by guitarboy02451 on Jun 11, 2006 8:16:09 GMT -7
How does either Swamp or Tonker compare to a V30?
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Post by drunkdolphin on Jun 11, 2006 10:00:57 GMT -7
Hi Gents, I have a pair of Tonkers, 1 in a MB Mark 1 reissue and a Thiele cab and I love the huge sound and great low end off them. I use the thiele cab with my Super Z to fill things out and provide some more thump to my low end.
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Post by guitarman1 on Jun 13, 2006 8:25:57 GMT -7
How does either Swamp or Tonker compare to a V30? The Tonker has more low end, more open mids without the mid hump of the V30, smoother top end, less breakup, louder (102 db) and just sounds bigger . The Tonker is a fairly balanced speaker. The Swamp Thang is similar to the Tonker, but has slightly scooped mids and a different top end that I like less than the Tonker. I don't care for V30s that much, unless I'm playing some pretty distorted Rock & Roll.
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Post by Telemanic on Jun 13, 2006 15:09:54 GMT -7
I gotta throw in for the Legend 121. It is the speaker that both the swamp and tonker are derived from. Each of those are "tweaked" versions of it, with accentuated highs or lows, that then have a slight effect on the apparent mid range. It is of course subjective and personal, but i find it more balanced than the other two, a more "honest" speaker, if you will. The 121 has a very natural mid responce, giving it a really cool open-ness to it, a solid bottom, and nice chimey highs that always stay musical. It will still bark at ya when you slam it, tho !! Again, very balanced, no obvious notches or peaks, but definately not flat or bland. Its loud and clear, (just not as loud and in your face as the tonker) and can be driven to break up just a little easier than the other two. It is the most versatile if not the best speaker ive ever played.
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Post by sparrowhawk (Bob) on Jun 14, 2006 10:42:11 GMT -7
Thanks, guys!
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